Previews
Leading reviewers chose Prospero's Island as must-see opera: Joshua Kosman cited Shearer and Stevens "richly imaginative works" in SF Chronicle's Critic's Pick.
Bay Area Reporter showcases "groundbreaking creators" of Prospero's Island, the opera's "intriguing premise" and "promising production."
The premiere of Prospero's Island made headlines! Read this ARTICLE in L.A. Opus; see this major preview in OperaWire and this detailed article in Broadway World. .
Ninth Planet, in co-production with InTandem, proudly presented the world premiere of Prospero's Island at San Francisco's Herbst Theatre, March 25, 2023. Prospero's Island is a new chamber opera about power, deception, terrible secrets and new beginnings from acclaimed Bay Area opera creators Allen Shearer and Claudia Stevens. Stunning imagery of the Falkland Islands, richly orchestrated music was performed by Ninth Planet players, and glorious singing by a stellar cast contributed to an unforgettable retelling of Shakespeare's great play, The Tempest.
The characters of Prospero's Island captivate: the controlling, manipulative, yet oddly appealing Prospero, reimagined as a war criminal in hiding; paratrooper Andy and the lovely Mandy as they fall in love (but is it magic or true?); sullen teenage Caliban, as he tussles with the island's cheeky penguins; the faithful Ariel, whose devotion to Prospero is put to the ultimate test. What will these newly imagined beings do when they learn the truth?
The cast of the premiere included Andrew Dwan as Prospero, Shawnette Sulker as Ariel, Bradley Kynard as Caliban, Amy Foote as Mandy (Miranda), Sergio Gonzalez as Andy (Ferdinand), Julia Hathaway as Steffi (Stephano) and Angela Jarosz as Trish (Trinculo). Nathaniel Berman conducted the twelve-piece orchestra, with Phil Lowery as stage director. Members of the Grammy-winning San Francisco Girls Chorus portrayed the island's penguins.
Leading reviewers chose Prospero's Island as must-see opera: Joshua Kosman cited Shearer and Stevens "richly imaginative works" in SF Chronicle's Critic's Pick.
Bay Area Reporter showcases "groundbreaking creators" of Prospero's Island, the opera's "intriguing premise" and "promising production."
The premiere of Prospero's Island made headlines! Read this ARTICLE in L.A. Opus; see this major preview in OperaWire and this detailed article in Broadway World. .
Ninth Planet, in co-production with InTandem, proudly presented the world premiere of Prospero's Island at San Francisco's Herbst Theatre, March 25, 2023. Prospero's Island is a new chamber opera about power, deception, terrible secrets and new beginnings from acclaimed Bay Area opera creators Allen Shearer and Claudia Stevens. Stunning imagery of the Falkland Islands, richly orchestrated music was performed by Ninth Planet players, and glorious singing by a stellar cast contributed to an unforgettable retelling of Shakespeare's great play, The Tempest.
The characters of Prospero's Island captivate: the controlling, manipulative, yet oddly appealing Prospero, reimagined as a war criminal in hiding; paratrooper Andy and the lovely Mandy as they fall in love (but is it magic or true?); sullen teenage Caliban, as he tussles with the island's cheeky penguins; the faithful Ariel, whose devotion to Prospero is put to the ultimate test. What will these newly imagined beings do when they learn the truth?
The cast of the premiere included Andrew Dwan as Prospero, Shawnette Sulker as Ariel, Bradley Kynard as Caliban, Amy Foote as Mandy (Miranda), Sergio Gonzalez as Andy (Ferdinand), Julia Hathaway as Steffi (Stephano) and Angela Jarosz as Trish (Trinculo). Nathaniel Berman conducted the twelve-piece orchestra, with Phil Lowery as stage director. Members of the Grammy-winning San Francisco Girls Chorus portrayed the island's penguins.
The producers welcome inquiries at [email protected]. Find press release as a .pdf for the March 25, 2023 world premiere of PROSPERO'S ISLAND. And find Facts at a Glance below. You also may download "Facts at a Glance" as a .pdf.
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Facts at a Glance
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What: PROSPERO'S ISLAND, a new chamber opera
Who: Composed by Allen Shearer, libretto by Claudia Stevens Based on Shakespeare's play The Tempest Conducted by Nathaniel Berman, directed by Philip Lowery Presented by Ninth Planet and InTandem When: March 25, 2023 Run Time: 95 minutes, plus one intermission Where: Herbst Theatre (Veteran's War Memorial Bldg.), 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA Briefly: In this stirring yet often lighthearted opera, Shearer and Stevens bring Shakespeare's great play to life as a chamber opera, transporting it to the Falkland Islands in the 1950's. With powerful imagery and stirring music, the opera takes place on one momentous day, from dawn until dusk. Over that day, the lives of all on the island will be changed forever, as they learn the truth about Prospero's dark past and then must make their way into a brave new world. Audiences will meet Prospero, master of the island, who in this adaptation, has done great harm through his science and now yearns to make amends and provide a new life for his daughter; "Mandy," Prospero's bookish daughter, sheltered on the island for fourteen years; Ariel, a magical being half bird, half woman, whose loyalty to Prospero will be tested; Caliban, angry and rebellious, longing to find his father, yet afraid of what he will find; "Andy," who falls in love with Mandy, yet must being her father to justice; and the comedy team of paratroopers Steffi and Trish, who carouse and create general chaos. |
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Acclaim for the 2019 San Francisco premiere of Howards End, America
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Operawire, March 4, 2019: “Elegant, thoughtful and persuasive –Shearer’s score had everything, counterpointing the eloquent lyrics Stevens created. Intimate and powerful . . . with never a false note. We need more opera at this level that is provocative as well as satisfying.”
– Lois Silverstein Berkeley Times, March 7, 2019: "A triumph of modern opera, Howards End, America (headline) . . . Berkeley composer Allen Shearer and pianist and librettist Claudia Stevens had a significant triumph in the premiere of their newest opera” –Adam Broner San Francisco Examiner, Feb. 23, 2019: “Operatic ‘Howards End, America’ a refreshing stateside spin on a classic story (headline). . the chamber opera is a fresh, resonant , gripping America take on the classic English novel. ” – James Ambroff-Tahan |
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Repeat Performances, Feb 23, 2019: "Howards End– a birth and re-birth (headline). A powerful work of literature was given a new life. . . Stevens edited Forster’s round phrases into a language that was spare but filled with innuendo, nearly poetic in its simplicity. Complementing that, Shearer’s composing was rich in its many moods while remaining astringent in its modernity, edgy and atmospheric and all closely knit to the text. It was riveting and unique and moving, and, surprisingly, there is nothing like that birth scene in all of opera.” – Broner
Georgia Rowe (reviewer for San Jose Mercury News), Feb. 27, 2019: “A beautiful opera . . . should have a long life."
Georgia Rowe (reviewer for San Jose Mercury News), Feb. 27, 2019: “A beautiful opera . . . should have a long life."
Acclaim for the 2015 San Francisco premiere of Middlemarch in Spring
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George Eliot Review: “a fine adaptation of Middlemarch which is also a work of originality and charm. Musically and dramatically this is a moving and enjoyable work which gives a concentrated expression of more of George Eliot’s novel than one might think possible in a brief, two-act opera.” – Delia Da Sousa Correa and Michael Halliwell
Repeat Performances, Piedmont Post: "The action, though refined, was gripping, made easily accessible through Stevens’ reduction and the singers’ careful diction. The music was a revelation . . . that mirrored and explored the emotional dynamics. The duets were also explorations of those human dynamics: at times voices crossed like swords, and at other times there was a sweetness to the exchange . . . a rich device, and as colorful and coy as the nineteenth century original.” - Adam Broner |
Bachtrack: “Middlemarch in Spring is charming, engaging, and romantic . . . I found the music especially wonderful. Shearer’s score is lush, elegant and witty." - Jaime Robles
San Francisco Chronicle: “Composer Allen Shearer and librettist Claudia Stevens deftly mined George Eliot’s novel for a sunny, ingratiating and altogether effective piece of musical theater at Z Space. Shearer’s score – tuneful, elegant and canny in its creation of musical character – furthers that notion. Working with striking concision, the composer helps us hear the inner nature of each of the characters. . . one of the top ten operatic events of 2015" – Joshua Kosman
San Francisco Examiner: "Middlemarch’ – literature’s gift to opera (headline) Middlemarch in Spring (is) a rare phenomenon: a new opera of dramatic integrity, with music that's both boldly contemporary and instantly accessible. . . the opera brings the novel to life with uncanny mastery." - Janos Gereben
San Francisco Chronicle: “Composer Allen Shearer and librettist Claudia Stevens deftly mined George Eliot’s novel for a sunny, ingratiating and altogether effective piece of musical theater at Z Space. Shearer’s score – tuneful, elegant and canny in its creation of musical character – furthers that notion. Working with striking concision, the composer helps us hear the inner nature of each of the characters. . . one of the top ten operatic events of 2015" – Joshua Kosman
San Francisco Examiner: "Middlemarch’ – literature’s gift to opera (headline) Middlemarch in Spring (is) a rare phenomenon: a new opera of dramatic integrity, with music that's both boldly contemporary and instantly accessible. . . the opera brings the novel to life with uncanny mastery." - Janos Gereben
Acclaim for the 2009 Herbst Theater premiere of The Dawn Makers
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San Francisco Classical Voice: "a chamber opera production superior to any work I have seen from the Bay Area's smaller companies." - Thomas Busse
Opera, The Economist: "Shearer's score has genuine personality . . . Stevens' libretto wavers cunningly between comedy and pathos" - Allan Ulrich San Francisco Chronicle: "The Dawn Makers" (is) a wonderful new one-act chamber opera that had its world premiere Wednesday night in Herbst Theatre. Boasting a beautiful and resourceful score by Allen Shearer and a canny . . . libretto by Claudia Stevens it packs plenty of tenderness and humor into its one-hour run time." - Joshua Kosman |
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Allen and Claudia talk about their life in opera
"Librettist Claudia Stevens's personal story factored into the opera's depiction of Miranda, a sheltered girl who suddenly learns that she had been deceived about the past and her own identity:" Watch Claudia's video
"For composer Allen Shearer, his early career as an opera singer, performing humorous and dramatic roles, drew him to create in music the array of complex, lyrical and zany characters that inhabit Prospero's Island: Watch Allen's video
"For composer Allen Shearer, his early career as an opera singer, performing humorous and dramatic roles, drew him to create in music the array of complex, lyrical and zany characters that inhabit Prospero's Island: Watch Allen's video
